Arthington: St Peter
Overview
Grid reference: SE 274 445
The church was built in 1864 although it is not clear who the architect was. The 120ft tower is positioned at the north west corner and doubles as the main entrance to the church; in fact the only other external doorway is in the vestry. The nave roof is pitched and slightly higher than that of the chancel; the tower is set into it. The west elevation of the nave has an arcade of five lights with shafts. The transepts have separate pitched roofs which blend against the nave. The chancel has two bays divided by a buttress with a single offset, seen repeatedly around the building.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, transepts, chancel, vestry and northwest tower and porch.
Dimensions:
(Approx) Nave 18m (60ft) x 6m (20ft) Transepts 4m (13ft) x 3m (10ft) Chancel 8m x 6m.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1864 although it is not clear who the architect was. The church guidebook indicates that it was a firm from Bradford and this would tie in with the suggestion that Mallison and Healey were responsible. Other sources suggest that the architect was Sir G G Scott who was certainly working on Arthington Hall around this time. While one list of his works makes no reference to St Peter’s another records that Arthington, St Peter was a restoration rather than a new build so some involvement from Scott is probable.
Exterior Description
The 120ft tower is positioned at the north west corner and doubles as the main entrance to the church; in fact the only other external doorway is in the vestry. The tower is of three stages; on the lower north face is the narrow arched doorway which has a roll-moulded head and short set-in shafts with stiff-leaf foliate capitals. The west face has two slender lights within a pointed arch, roughly level with the west windows of the nave. The second stage has a very thin lancet to each face other than the south which abuts the nave and a single clock face over the lancet to the north.
The third stage is equal on all sides and the belfry windows each have two small louvred lancets within a pointed arch with shafts as seen on the doorway. The spire is broach with lucarnes supported on slender shafts.
The nave roof is pitched and slightly higher than that of the chancel; the tower is set into it. The west elevation of the nave has an arcade of five lights with shafts as previously described on the north door and tower; the second and fourth are blind and the others are simple cusped lancets. Above is a large rose window.
The nave is of three bays; the westernmost is occupied by the tower to the north and by a window to the south. The window is geometrical in style and has three slightly stepped lancets and three trefoil roundels overhead. This style of window is used throughout with variations on roundels, foils and height of lancets.
The middle bay of the nave is similar on both elevations. Each has a three light window; the north being identical to that just described and the south with a large sexfoil above a shorter central lancet. The easternmost bay of the nave has windows of two equal lights, with a cinquefoil over the north and a sexfoil over the south.
The transepts have separate pitched roofs which blend against the nave. Each has a large three-light window with three foils overhead. The north has cinquefoils and a trefoil and the south sexfoils and trefoil.
The chancel has two bays divided by a buttress with a single offset, seen repeatedly around the building. There are two windows to the north, each of two equal lights with either a trefoil or quatrefoil over. The south side of the chancel is occupied by the organ chamber and the vestry. The former has a low pitch and adjoins the transept with the latter, much lower still, adjoining it and leaning to the chancel with a short chimney in-between.
The organ chamber has a large cinquefoil roundel and as mentioned, an external entrance with a cross detailed on the tympanum. The east wall of the vestry has a squat three-light domestic window with minimal detailing above the central light.
The main east window is high with shafts as seen at the west end and previously described. There are four equal lancets divided between two arches with a trefoil over each and encompassed within a larger arch with cinquefoil roundel. All windows are linked by a continuous moulded sill and string course which accentuates each elevation.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
East window, four equal lights, trefoil and cinquefoil tracery roundels above. By Ward & Hughes. Each lancet has two oval framed depictions of scenes from the life of Christ, eg baptism, crucifixion, teaching
Stained Glass
Chancel north, two lights, trefoil roundel above. Pharaoh’s daughter finding Moses in the rushes.
Stained Glass
Chancel north, two lights, trefoil roundel above. Two depictions of Peter & Jesus, fishing and with lambs. (l) From henceforth thou shall catch man (r) Lead my sheep.
Stained Glass
Transept north, three lights, quatrefoil and trefoil roundels above. Nunc Dimittis.
Stained Glass
Transept south, three lights, quatrefoil and trefoil roundels above. By JB Capronnier 1875. Scenes from the lives of Joseph & Jacob. (l-r) Genesis Ch47 v7. Genesis Ch48 v 20. Genesis Ch50 v 7.
Stained Glass
Nave north, two lights, cinquefoil above. By Ward & Hughes London 1882. (l) Mary anoints Jesus’ feet. (r) Jesus and kneeling female figure ‘I ascend unto my father and your father’.
Stained Glass
Nave south, two lights, sexfoil above. (l) Jesus Light of the World. (r) Good Shepherd.
Stained Glass
West, three widely spaced slight cusped lancets, large rose window above with eight distinct segments. (l-r) Sanctus Johannes, Sanctus Petrus, Sanctus Jacobus. Rose window not seen in detail.
Interior
Interior Description
The nave is long and narrow and without much natural light. The glass is mostly stained apart from one window on each side of the nave. There is an arch-braced collar truss roof to the nave and a seven cant open truss to the chancel.
As seen on the exterior of the building, arches to the transepts and the chancel are detailed with deeply-undercut roll-moulding in the soffits, and shafts with stiff-leaf capitals.
The sanctuary is richly decorated in comparison to the nave. The floors are tiled and the reredos is detailed and colourful. The iron book rests in front of the choir stalls give the space a less structured impression than is usually found.
The organ pipes speak into the chancel from the south side and access to the vestry is via both the south transept and through a cusped arched doorway from the chancel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1864
Wooden frame table with simple trefoil arches to front and sides
Reredos
1864
Detailed depiction of The Last Supper in an alabaster frame with marble inlay. Brattishing detail and panels with evangelistic symbols in alabaster to either side.
Pulpit
1864
Curved stone pulpit with wide marble column support and octagonal plinth, three steps from chancel. Decorated with large foliate carving around the column and the heads of saints in relief around the body of the pulpit.
Font (object)
1864
Low stone bowl font with short thick column stem on an octagonal plinth. Simple leaf detailing around rim and base of bowl.
Organ (object)
1864
Originally built by William Hill in 1864. This organ would have been impressive in a country church of this size and had a comprehensive specification. The organ was repaired to its detriment by amateurs in 1967.
Rail
1864
Wooden rail supported entirely on scrolled iron stanchions with etched decoration which are the main focus.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SE 274 445
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.